Supporting and spacing means for gaseous discharge tures



D312.) 29, 1931. R c, HYDE 1,838,181

SUPPORTING AND SPACING- MEANS FOR GASEOUS DISCHARGE TUBES Filed May 7, 1930 Patented Dec, 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH CSHYDE, OI LOS ANGEIlES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO CLAUDE NEON ELEG- TRIOAL PRODUCTS CORPORATION, LTD., OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPO- BATZEON OF; DELAWARE SUPPORTING SPACIN 'G' HEARS FOR GASEOUS FISCHARGE TUBES Application filed May 7, 1930. Serial No. 450,589.

This invention relates to a device intended for supporting and spacing a luminous gaseous discharge tube from a mounting board orbacking.-

The mounting of a luminous gaseousdlscharge tube, such as the neon tubes wlnch are employed in advertising signs requlres the use of means for holding the differentportions of the tube definitely spaced from the backing plate. A considerable number of such spacing means is required and 1t 1s the primary object of the present inventlon to provide a simple form of bracket and cooperating spacingposts for this purpose.

A further object of the present invent on is to provide a combination of mountmg bracket and spacing post for use with a gaseous discharge tube in which the post and bracket are both of simple and inexpensive construction and in which the 'post and bracket are so formed that they maybe readily and rapidly assembled and locked together.

Thejpresent invention together with various further objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the description of a preferred form or example of a device embodying the invention. For this purpose there is hereafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the preferred form of device embodying the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a drawing showing the bracket in place against a backing plate for a gaseous discharge tube with the dost of thebracket engaging the tube in accordance with the manner of utilizing'the bracket in practice.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is 'a section on the Figure 2. O

Figure 4 is a view of the spacing post.

line 3.3 of

Referring to the drawings,2 generally indictates a part of a gaseous discharge tube such as-the familiar neon tubes used in advertising signs. The tube 2 is mounted in front of a plate 3 and must be spaced a definite distance fromsuch plate, for which purpose the device constituting the present invention is employed.

The .device includes a bracket member; which isstamped out of sheet metaland is provided with a base or foot portion 5'which is intended to lie flat against the plate 3 and is provided with an opening 6 by which attaching means, such as screws 7, may be.

utilized .for holding the same clamped against the plate 3. The bracket is further provided with ears 8 turned upwardly at right angles to the foot portion 5 and curved around, as indicated in Figure 3, to form a split socket. There is also provided an indentation 9 or other projecting means in the split socket thus formed which is adaptv ed for making engagement with threads on a post or spacing member.

10 indicates a post-like spacing member which is formed of insulating material and is usually of glass or other fragile material, and the same is enlarged at its upper end, as indicated at 11, to form a head which is provided with a grooved seat 12. The lower portion of the post 10 is threaded, as indicated at 13, and adapted to engage the indentation 9 in the socket so that it may be screw threaded thereinto. The post member is fur ther provided with a longitudinal slot 14, as shown in Figure 4,-leading from the lower end upwardly.

In use the bracketis secured to the plate 3 by the screw 7', or other suitable means,

indentation 9 or other projection of the sock- 'et passing through the slot 14. This permits the post to be rapidly placed in position. By turning the post relative to the bracket the indentation or other projection9 engages the thread '13 .on the post and forces the post against the backing plate 3, and -the post is firmly held and locked in the operating position. I Y I The tube 2 is then laid against the socket 12 on the post and tied by suitable means 16 to the post 10.

It is understood that theemhodiment of theinvention described herein is only one of the many embodiments this invention may and then the post 10 is inserted in the spring- I ,like socket formed by the curved ears 9, the

' her having a foot portion and'a split socket take, and I do not wish to be limited in the permit insertion of said post in said socket practice of the invention, nog in the claims, free of engagement by said projection and a to the particular embodiment set forth. seat formed on said post for receiving said I claim: tube, said seat being disposed at such angle 1. A device for mounting luminous gaseous relative to said projection that the post must discharge tubes upon and in spaced relation be rotated in said socket to align the seat to a backing plate comprising a bracket memwith said tube.

Signed at Los Angeles, California this portion integral therewith and turned at 29th day of April 1930. right angles to the foot portion, the socket RALPH (l HYDE. having a thread engageable projection and a post member providing a seat for the tube, the post member being threaded for engagement with the) projection of the socket, and a longitudinal slot in the post member through which the projection of the socket may be passed when the post is inserted into the socket. r j

2. A device for mounting luminous gase ous discharge tubes upon and in spaced relation to the backing plate comprising a post member of fragile insulating material, having threads at its lower end and having a socket for engagement with a tube at its upper end, a sheet metal bracket for suppo tingsaid post member at right angles to a backing plate, said bracket member comprising a foot portion adapted for attachment to the backing plate and a socket portion formed by curved ears extending substantially at right angles to the foot portion, the socket being provided with means for 'engaging the threads of the post member, the

0st member having a longitudinal groove adapted to align with the thread engaging means of the socket member to permit the post member to be axially slid into the socket.

3. A device for mounting luminous gaseous discharge tubes upon and in spaced're lation to a backing plate comprising a bracket having a foot portion to be secured in contact with the backing plate and having a tubular socket formed on said foot, the longitudinal axis of the socket extending at right angles to the plane of the foot portion, a post member providing a.seat for the tube, the post member being formed of insulating material and having a threaded portion thereof insertable in said socket, a projection on said socket extending inwardly thereof to engage said threads, said threads being cut away to form a longitudinal slot through which the projection on the socket may be passed when the post is inserted in the socket.

4; A device for mounting luminous gase ous discharge tubes upon and in spaced relation to abacking plate comprising a bracket attachable to said backing plate and having a socket formed therewith, a p-rdjection formed upon and extending inwardly of said socket and a post member including a portion insertablein said socket and having means thereon engageable with said projection to hold said post in said socket, a portion of the surface of said post being cut away to 

